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The chapter begins with the name of a unique personality, Saul. He
was the great persecutor who became the greatest Apostle. By birth, he was a
Jew; by citizenship, a Roman; by education, a Greek; by religion, a Pharisee;
by conversion, a Christian; by calling, an Apostle of Jesus Christ. He became a
transformed follower, disciple of Christ, an evangelist, a teacher, a preacher,
a pastor, a missionary, a prophet, an Apostle, a leader, a theologian, a
defender of the faith once delivered unto the saints. There was never a man
like him and there has never been a man like him in the history of the Church.
The dramatic story of Saul’s conversion and commission is recorded
in this chapter. He was a blood-thirsty persecutor, “breathing out
threatenings and slaughter against” the Church. The thought of
Christians excited rage, violent anger, fury and irresistible desire to
destroy. He secured letters of authority from the high Priest to arrest, bind,
and imprison Christian men and women in Damascus. Damascus was about 120 miles
from Jerusalem. “And as he journeyed,” the Lord Jesus Christ,
confronted him and the divine encounter convicted and converted him. The course
of his life was changed and the account of gospel proclamation was changed for
the better. Before the end of the chapter, we read, “Then had the
churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified;
and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were
multiplied ” (Acts 9:31).
“And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter
against the disciples of the Lord.” Saul pursued the persecution of Christians
in Jerusalem zealously and without relenting. His goal was to root out
Christianity from every city in the nation. Having received letters of
authority to bring Christians bound to Jerusalem, he journeyed to Damascus. And
the Lord was gracious. The Lord could have removed the wheels of his chariot
(Exodus 14:24,25). He could have rained hails and fire on him (Exodus 9:23-25).
He could have opened the ground to swallow him up alive (Numbers 16:31-33). He
could have dried up his hands and limbs (1 Kings 13:4). He could have sent an
angel to destroy him (Isaiah 37:38; Acts 12:23). He could have reduced him to a
senseless animal (Daniel 4:33-35). He could have withdrawn his breath and made
him drop dead (Acts 5:5,10). Instead, He confronted him, convicted him, brought
him to repentance and submission to the divine will. This is grace! ‘Marvellous
grace of our loving Lord, Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt; Marvellous,
infinite, matchless grace, Freely bestowed’ on the chief of sinners. His sin was
like the sin of Haman, who wanted to exterminate all Jews from the face of the
earth. Haman was hanged on his own gallows; Saul was saved by the death of a
Substitute, the Saviour and Sin-bearer, Jesus Christ.
There, on the road, not
in a synagogue, temple or cathedral, he moved rapidly from confrontation to
conviction to conversion to consecration. Confrontation: “Saul,
Saul, why persecutest thou Me?” What injury had Christ caused
him to provoke such cruel, violent, murderous, unrelenting attacks? Christ and
His people are one – attacks against believers are direct blows to Christ. Conviction: “Who art Thou, Lord?
I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.” He trembled as he realized the
height and the depth of his sin – the sin of striking, beating, kicking against,
fighting God. Conversion: “And
he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?”
What a change! From Moses to Christ. From Judaism to Christianity. From the
High Priest to Jesus, Lord and Saviour. From kicking against the pricks to
kneeling before the Prince. From stubborn opposition to submissive obedience.
He received Jesus as Lord and final Authority over his life. Consecration: “Lord, what wilt
Thou have me to do?” “Lord, have me.” “Lord, what
wilt Thou? ” “Lord, have me do.” He was now willing and
ready to do, only and always whatever the Lord commanded and demanded of him.
For the rest of his life, he did nothing more, nothing less, nothing else – he
did only the will of God. You, too, can.
Amen! Awesome study this week! The message was very challenging and a great blessing! The conversion of Paul the Apostle perfectly depicts the transforming power of God's Word and the definite dramatic change that an encounter with Christ produces in a sinner's heart and life. I pray for the same zeal, passion, that exemplified Paul's walk with the Lord. Like Paul, may the Lord polish us and mold us into a vessel that is worthy of His use - amen!
Be blessed as you watch this week's Bible Study here.
-Charity
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